Journal of Archaeological Studies

Recognition of the Great Khorasan Road in the North of Markazi Province

majid montazer zohouri; esmail sharahi

Volume 13, Issue 4 , September 2022, , Pages 233-260

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2020.286724.142763

Abstract

Undoubtedly, the Great Khorasan Road, known as the Silk Road, has been one of the most important trade routes during the historical periods of Iran. In a comprehensive perspective this ... Read More

Evolution of Architectural Structure of Towers of Silence from Sasanid to Late Islamic Period

Seyed Mehdi Mousavinia

Volume 14, Issue 1 , June 2022, , Pages 131-153

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2021.320017.142996

Abstract

Archaeological data and textual sources provide information on Zoroastrian burial customs in Iran that could read and investigate in their context. One of these burial customs is burying ... Read More Archaeological data and textual sources provide information on Zoroastrian burial customs in Iran that could read and investigate in their context. One of these burial customs is burying the body into the towers of silence. This ritual practice canonized in Zoroastrian religious texts such as Vidēvdāt and documented in historical sources and archaeological findings. Beside Central Asia one what comparable to the first generation of towers of silence this funeral practice reported from Sasanid to the Late Islamic period. Although all of these burial structures mentioned as the towers of silence (Dakhma), there are plenty of architectural structures, from the beginning to the Late Islamic period; from the platforms of xwaršēd nigerišn to roofed towers of silence; from rooms of ossuary to central well (sarāda) of towers of silence. This paper has tried to thanks to archaeological findings and historical sources recommend some relative dating on towers of silence. Besides, the formal evolution of these burial structures has investigated from the Sasanid to the Late Islamic period. Hence, there are some questions to answer. 1) How are the continuation and evolution of the architectural structure of towers of silence from the Sasanid to the Late Islamic period? 2) Which elements caused the evolution of the architectural structure of towers of silence? 3) Is it possible to find a relative dating about the date of construction of these burial structures based on the evolution of the architecture of towers of silence? For the answer to these questions, a descriptive-analytical method has used. Field and library studies and comparative studies are the most important methods of this illustration. This study will show towers of silence follow four different architecture methods. The quality of roof covering, the way of exposure, the divide of burial spaces, location of a central well, how to enter to xwaršēd nigerišn places, details of architectural structure and creation of some buildings related to burial are the most important towers of silence diversities factors. There is some reason for these diversities: 1) emigration of Zoroastrian communities to Yazd 2) cultural relation between Iran and India Zoroastrian communities, 3) Maneckji Limji Hataria activities in Iran

The formation, the extention and the fall of the “Shapurkhast city” based on historical sources and archaeological evidences

Mahtab Eslami Nasab; Behrouz Afkhami; habib Shabazi shiran

Volume 12, Issue 3 , December 2020, , Pages 1-24

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2020.255895.142554

Abstract

Archaeological studies of ancient cities have a significant role in understanding their formation, their development, the fall and destruction in different historical periods. According ... Read More Archaeological studies of ancient cities have a significant role in understanding their formation, their development, the fall and destruction in different historical periods. According to the historical sources (the 10th to 14th century A.D) there has been an ancient city named Shapurkhast on the western of Iran, which its history dates back to Sasanian era. In these sources, the city has constructed by Shapur I (240-272 A.D). Life in the city had continued during the Islamic period until the 14th A.D. The city reached its peak in the 11th century AD. The remnants of the old city have been founded at south-eastern parts of the modern city of Khorram Abad especially from the excavations in 2007. The present research analyses the data derived from the historical resources and archaeological evidences in order to study and investigate the factors in settling in the area. This study deals with the formation, development and prosperity and then the fall of Shapurkhast city. The results of this study imply that the main period of occupation of Shapurkhast was Islamic era that its foundation has been made at pre-Islamic periods, and probably even Parthian era. Having appropriate environmental conditions and also lying at the middle of west to east and north to south communication routes, the south plain of Khorram Abad has potentially provided suitable living conditions for forming the city. It seems that Shapurkhast has been abandoned at the 13th or 14th A.D and modern Khorram Abad began to function as the central town of the region. Environmental and ecological conditions are the most important factors for the collapse of the city. The present study is based on a "holistic" approach and based on two categories of historical and archaeological information which has provided new information about one of the early Islamic cities in Iran. The data is based on historic sources from the 10th to 14th AD, and archaeological evidences from the excavation at southeastern Khorram Abad in 2007 and then archaeological surveys at Khorram Abad gorge in 2000 and 2016. The most important questions in this research are the following: 1. When did the settlement in the city of Shapur Khasta begin and what were the reasons for the formation of the city? 2. In what period and based on which components are the peak of prosperity and urban development introduced? 3. What were the factors that cause the collapse and fall of the city in the Middle of Islamic period and the transfer of its population to the northwest of the town? The research hypothesis is that Shapurkhast city was an important early Islamic city, which its foundation was made before of Islamic period. There has not been much research about the city of Shapurkhast from the formation to the fall. Additionally, available researches are relatively old and no new comprehensive research has been done on the city with archaeological viewpoint, and some of the reports have not been published. Therefore, we will try to use archaeological evidences, written sources and the historical maps aiming to provide suitable information about one of the unknown cities in Iran. Urban development and urbanization was formed as a manifestation of the power of the Sassanid Empire in Iran and in competition with the Roman Empire (Moqimizade, 2017). the development of urban settlements has been subject to environmental, economic and social conditions; That is, urban settlements were centers of communication, recreation, and redistribution of commercial goods to subordinate cities and states. Around the city of Shapurkhast; Suitable ecological substrates including important Zagros highlands around, rich water resources especially KhorramAbad and Karganeh rivers, flat and fertile plain south of the valley, and most importantly being located in the east-west and north-south communication routes from The main factors in the formation of settlements in the south of Khorramabad valley, followed by the formation of urban settlements. We know very little about the formation of the city. Due to the development of the Silk Road in the Parthian period and the location of the city in the communication routes east and west of the region and south to north, the urban life of Shapurkhast city probably took place in the Parthian period. Due to the existence use of the name "Shapur" in archaeological evidence, this city was developed during the Sassanid period. The existence and permanence of the king's name on the coins (Figure 14) left over from the Sassanid period certainly indicates the double and strategic importance of the city in the Sassanid period, which proves the Sassanid rule in these areas. The distribution of Sassanid sites in the Khorramabad valley is another proof of this claim (Figure 4). Our knowledge indicates that the first time, Sassanid Shapur in order to develop individual power to urban development for change the social structure of Iran, cities has undergone changes and developed and in this process the name "Shapur" on most cities as Shapurkhast "was established. Archaeological evidence from the excavation does not prove that urban development is a process, meaning that urban development has been accompanied by ups and downs. Among the reasons could be the decline of the Sassanid rule and repeated invasions of Iran. In the Islamic period from the fourth and fifth centuries onwards, when the Seljuks ruled in the Middle East in Iran, Iraq, and Asia Minor; the golden age of prosperity and development of the city began and the Seljuk’s (10th to 12th AD) of Iraq made Khorramabad one of the most important strategic points and connections with the Seljuks of Iran. The granting of coins to Al-Hasnawiyah and the existence of local coins were minted in the name of local governors clearly and significantly increase the importance of the city. In the Islamic period, this city has completely passed the urban life and has had a mosque, a mint and a government fortress. Due to its importance, the city has been repeated many times in geographical and historical books. Based on the holistic mentality in this study, important information is provided; from written historical resources including geographical and historical books and data from archaeological excavation find such as coins, pottery and the distribution of sites regarding the formation, development and fall of the city of Shapurkhast (Figure 10 and 12). The foundation of the mentioned city was laid in the Parthian period. The city was developed during the Sassanid period due to the importance of the Sassanid kings in the development of cities and their location on trade routes, and was named after Shapur, the second and most powerful Sassanid king. In the Islamic period, after a short break, we see the comprehensive development of the city and the benefit of all urban structures, especially in the Seljuk period. The city was still prosperous until the end of the 14th century AD, when due to the growth of the town of KhorramAbad, its inhabitants merged with the current KhorramAbad and continued urban life. This city has been developed with suitable environmental conditions and being located on ancient roads and has been one of the important cities of the region in the Islamic era. During the patriarchal period, ecological and environmental conditions were among the most important factors in the abandonment of the city.

Archaeological Survey and Analysis the Settlements of Hamedan Plain from the Beginning of the Islamic Period to the end of Safavid Period

Mohammad Shabani; Maryam Mohammadi

Volume 12, Issue 3 , December 2020, , Pages 117-141

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2020.272876.142661

Abstract

The Hamadan-Bahar Plain has been one of the most important center for human societies in the various periods, especially in the Islamic Period. The archaeological explorations of this ... Read More The Hamadan-Bahar Plain has been one of the most important center for human societies in the various periods, especially in the Islamic Period. The archaeological explorations of this plain was done in the years of 2006 and 2009. But for study and analyze the settlement pattern the Islamic Period and for answer to questions such as, what have been the most important factors for the formation of Islamic Period sites in the Hamedan Plain? And the main volume of Islamic settlements in the Hamedan Plain were have been related to which century of the Islamic period? this plain was reviewed in the year of 2015. The main purpose of this review is to identify the settlement patterns of Islamic sites in the Hamedan plain based on the review of identified sites. In this study, which was conducted in the field study and in the form of a marching, 14 sites were reviewed and 2 newly sites were discovered in the study area. In order to better understand the settlement patterns, spatial information of sites was entered in the GIS and then analyzed. Due to the importance of the position of pottery data in the relative chronology of a region, after studying the typology of pottery and recognizing the types of special pottery products, it was found that the Islamic sites of Hamedan Plain are scattered based on two factors: first fertile lands and second caravan routes. The presence of defensive features in some of the sites which adjacent to the caravan routes indicates the importance of this issue in the distribution of sites. In addition, the influence of significant sites such as Hegmataneh site as the central settlement of this plain in the Islamic period has been effective on a number of sites around it. The lowlands, north of the Alvand Mountain is one of the middle plain in the central Zagros Mountain which in the past was known as Hamedan Plain and today is known as Hamedan-Bahar Plain. (Figure 1). Archaeological studies show that the Hamedan-Bahar Plain with about 880 square kilometers has been one of the most important centers for the establishment of human societies in the prehistoric and historical periods. Studies on prehistoric and historical sites have clarified the course of human cultures of this plain during that periods, However, the lack of sufficient attention to the sites of the Islamic period and the findings related to this period have left many archeological angles of this period unknown. The archaeological explorations of this plain has been done in the years of 2006 and 2009. (Mohammadifar and Motarjem, 2006; Balmaky and Motarjem, 2009). During these studies, a large number of discovered sites have been introduced as sites of the Islamic period. The Intended plain in the form of a master's thesis, was reviewed in form of field study in the summer of 2015 for the aim of studying and analyzing the settlement patterns of the Islamic sites (in the time period from the beginning of the Islamic period to the end of the Safavid period) and to answer the questions such as; what have been the most important factors for formation of the Islamic Period sites in the Hamedan Plain? And the main volume of Islamic settlements in the Hamedan Plain were have been related to which century of the Islamic period? Due to insufficient attention to the artifacts and findings of the Islamic period, especially pottery in the surveys of previous years, out of about 50 identified sites, that were introduced as Islamic sites, only 14 sites had cultural artifacts belong to this period. During this review, two other newly Islamic sites discovered and a total of 16 sites were introduced as sites of the Islamic period. for better understand the settlement patterns, spatial information of sites such as; Geographical location, geological features, altitude, shape, area, access to water resources, access to the routes, etc. were entered in the GIS and then analyzed. Based on these studies, the Islamic sites of Hamedan-Bahar plain were divided into six groups (Figure 2). The first and second groups are related to sites that have been completely destroyed, due to the invasion of agricultural lands or relatively large amount of residential area, and very little evidence of these sites remains today. The third group are the sites, that are less than 10 meters high and less than one-hectare area. The next group is related to sites, that are more than 10 meters high and their areas are less than one-hectare. The sites of this group, like the previous group, do not have a clear and orderly shape. The fifth group is related to sites which have more than 10 meters high and have an area of more than one-hectare to 10 hectares. The shape of this group of sites is geometrically regular, such as squares and rectangles (Figure 7). In the survey of these sites the evidence of defensive fortifications has been seen. The last group is related to sites, that are more than 10 meters high and more than 10 hectares in area. (Table 1). The only settlement of this group is the Hegmataneh/Hamedan Mound, with an area of more than 34 hectares which is considered as the settlement center of the plain. The studies have shown that the sites of groups three and four, around 75% of the total identified sites, dedicated to themselves which are located in the area with very fertile land and often located next to a site with an area of more than one hectare and there are specific defense structures. (Figure 3 and 4). These sites are most likely belong to very small villages that are directly related to the surrounding agricultural lands to be affected by large sites that have a defensive structure. The sites with a defense structure, which are often more than one hectare, are located next to the entrance of caravan routes into the plain. (Figure 7). The existence of sites with defense structures inside the plain, in addition to emphasizing the importance of the transit position of the region, has also shown the existence of insecurity. Based on the analysis of spatial information, the Islamic sites of the Hamadan-Bahar plain are scattered based on two factors: fertile lands and caravan routes and the presence of defensive features in some of the settlements along the caravan routes, shows the importance of this issue in the distribution of sites. The collected pottery was carefully analyzed and their typological studies were carried out with well-known centers sites of the Islamic period. During the study more than 20 types of pottery were identified (Table 2). The discovery of a large amount of evidence of the production of pottery, welding furnaces and metal and glass ornaments of the Islamic period in the Zino-abad shows that this site and Hegmataneh/Hamedan were used as an industrial site in the Islamic period and most probably their products were exported to other sites. Existence of similar species of pottery from large known pottery centers such as the Sultanabad and Soltanieh with local products of the plain, most probably the pottery of these centers transported to the Hamedan region through known routes. According to the pottery data, all the Islamic sites studied have several settlement periods. It seems that the arrival of the Arabs in this region did not have much effect on the continuity of settlement, because the first centuries of the Islamic pottery was found in almost all the studied sites. More than 56% of the sites were inhabited between the 4th and 7th centuries AH. It seems that the region from the beginning of the fourth century AH with the rise of local governments such as the Buyid dynasty and especially from the second half of the fourth century during the Seljuk period, the goal of many economic reforms were to provide livelihood. The importance of the region in this period is such that Hamedan has been chosen as the capital for several years since the Seljuk period. After this period, despite devastating the Mongol invasions of this region, about 62% of the plains were inhabited. It seems that in this period, despite the negative effects of the Mongol invasions, due to the presence of high-ranking people, life in the region has flourished. With the savage invasions of the Timurid period and the conflicts of the Aq Qoyunlu and Kara Koyunlu dynasty in this region between the early 8th century and the early 10th century AH, many settlements were reduced to less than 19%. During this period many of the settlements that flourished in the previous period were abandoned forever. This trend is also seen with less intensity in the Safavid period. In this period, despite the relative attention to the Hamedan and possibly the surrounding areas, the settlement patterns of the plain do not change much compared to the previous period

Archaeological Survey of Potteries in the Site of Nachir Khanloq of the Ray

Firooz Mahjoor; Mohmmad Ebrahimi-Niya; Hossein Sedighiyan

Volume 3, Issue 2 , February 2012, , Pages 173-192

Abstract

With at least 11 hectares site locating on Fashafooyeh from Rey Town, the archaic area of Nachir Khanloq is one of the important regions from Islamic period that has been less noticed ... Read More

Presentation of 12 Kinds of Stucco Works Used in the Architectural Decoration of the Islamic Period in Iran Based on Technical Properties

Ahmad Sālehi Kākhki; Hesām Aslāni

Volume 3, Issue 1 , July 2011, , Pages 89-1069

Abstract

According to technical presages, in the preliminary studies, we have found that there are at least 12 different kinds of stucco decorations belonging to the Islamic periods of Iran. ... Read More

Place of Donations and Sacrifices

Armān Shishehgar

Volume 1, Issue 2 , February 2010, , Pages 39-47

Abstract

By appearance of human societies, the spiritual needs of different individuals and societies to worship the creator and to donate in order to attain the health and to fulfill the wishes ... Read More

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Keywords = Islamic period

Recognition of the Great Khorasan Road in the North of Markazi Province

Abstract

Evolution of Architectural Structure of Towers of Silence from Sasanid to Late Islamic Period

Abstract

The formation, the extention and the fall of the “Shapurkhast city” based on historical sources and archaeological evidences

Abstract

Archaeological Survey and Analysis the Settlements of Hamedan Plain from the Beginning of the Islamic Period to the end of Safavid Period

Abstract

Archaeological Survey of Potteries in the Site of Nachir Khanloq of the Ray

Abstract

Presentation of 12 Kinds of Stucco Works Used in the Architectural Decoration of the Islamic Period in Iran Based on Technical Properties

Abstract

Place of Donations and Sacrifices

Abstract